Official Yerevan via member of parliament threatens Azerbaijan with nuclear weapons.

On April 5, 2016, in the media of Armenia member of parliament from the Armenian National Congress, former Prime Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan made a threatening statement about the presence of nuclear weapons in Armenia, which supposedly will protect Armenia and the so-called "Nagorno Karabakh Republic"from Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani side draws attention to the fact, that the reckless statement of Armenia is in contradiction with its obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, 1373, 1540 UN resolutions on prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical, biological weapons and their delivery systems.

The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly expressed its concern because of the threat to the entire region emanating from the operation of the outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and therefore systematically raised the issue of the termination of its activities. In this context it may be noted the concern of international organizations such as the European Union, which also repeatedly stated the need for immediate closure of the Armenian NPP. This fact is reflected also in the US Department of Energy reports.

It is pertinent to note that in 1989, after the earthquake in Armenia the activity of NPP was suspended. Its activity was restored only in 1995 year. Hence the conclusion, that for all these 6 years the safety of nuclear materials were not under strict international control.

There are a lot of facts smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials, as well as nuclear fuel waste from the citizens of Armenia, which once again confirms the danger to the region from not controlled Metsamor NPP.

In this sense, the threat from Armenian officials about the presence of the country's nuclear weapons and the possibility of using it against Azerbaijan, once again proves the unconstructive position of the Armenian side and the unwillingness to participate in the peacefull settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijani side hopes that the world community will take into account the above mentioned facts and express its principled position on this thorny issue while will be considered in international organizations.